MEET ZedTUPAC, The TUPAC SHAKUR OF AFRICA: Dress Alike, Look Alike, Sing Alike
…says ‘when I’m face-to-face with Tupac Amaru Skakur today, I’d thank him for the music inspiration by telling him you are a REAL G, I love your music, indeed you are a TRUE LEGEND and most of all you are a CHILD OF GOD’
*Zambian born super-star hit single titled ‘DANGER’ electrifying internet sensation, set most concerts in the African continent on fire
*’My Catholic church altar service, community led me to have Tupac re-incarnation’
*’I have been into music for 27-years constantly listening to 2pac, MC Hummer, Lost Boys, Naughty by nature, BIG, Bel Biv Divo, Heavy D, Ice T, Big punisher, Coolio, Hung Tang clan, all the West coast Connection back then in the 90s’
*’RIP TUPAC SHAKUR, His Legacy live on. I think he didn’t deserve to die young ’cause he was a people’s person ( voice of the voiceless) and he had a lot to give to the world’
*”I am ready to conquer the rap world by winning BET, MTV, GRAMMY; Emmy, American Music and African Music Awards. That is why my name is LEGACY (THA AFRICAN LION)”-ZedTUPAC
HE’S A HIGHLY TALENTED HIP-HOP/RAP MUSICIAN, WELL SOUGHT AFTER by show promoters across the continent of Africa. This Zambian born protégé of America’s Music Legend, Tupac Amaru Shakur goes by the stage name ‘ZedTUPAC’. He is a split image of Shakur: he dresses, dance and sing like him. ZedTUPAC’S hit single titled ‘DANGER’ has caused a heated sensation on the internet and set most concerts in the African continent on fire. In this interactive session with NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER’S AMERICA Senior Investigative Editor, GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, ZedTUPAC takes us through his journey into the music world, his passion for 2PAC SHAKUR, how he intends to use his music platform to ‘fight’ against the society ills, plans to win all music awards around the world, among others:
*NAIJA STANDARD: What led you into Hip-Hop/Rap music?
I grew up listening to hip-hop, from Artists like MC Hummer, Lost Boys, Naughty by nature, BIG, Bel Biv Divo, heavy D, Ice T, Big punisher, Coolio, Hung Tang clan, 2pac and all the West coast Connection etc. that was back then in the 90s
*NAIJA STANDARD: How long have you been into music?
I have been in music for 27years
*NAIJA STANDARD: How were you able to create a similar look, as in facial expressions, with bandana headband wrap around your head like Tupac Shakur?
I grew up in a Catholic home, I used to be an alter boy so church members and my community started telling me that I looked like 2pac Shakur, and that I should have the same hair cut (ball-head) because I used to have a different hair cut.
Hence the influence came from both my church and my community. As a result I also started going ball-head even wearing bandanas once I looked into the mirror.
*NAIJA STANDARD: We witnessed you introduce hip-hop word like ‘blah blah blah…’ in one of your raps on Shakur’s danceable hit song 🎵 giving it an African flavor and feelings that TUPAC is alive…how were you able to achieve that?
It is through daily perfect practice and hard work.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Without seeing you, hearing your original rap on Tupac sound arrangement, anyone who listens easily get carried away, thinking such could have been part of ‘unreleased songs’ of Tupac. How did you achieve this magic height?
It is through listening and miming to his music (practice makes perfect).
*NAIJA STANDARD: Based on your music, certainly Tupac is your hero. Why did you bring Shakur ‘back-to-life’ from the land of the dead?
First of all “RIP TUPAC SHAKUR, His Legacy live on” I think he didn’t deserve to die young cause he was a people’s person ( voice of the voiceless) and he had a lot to derive to the world.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What are the factors that motivates you in Tupac that made you to ‘idolize’ his personality and music?
Due to the positive massage in his music which motivated young people ( especially black communities), his music also taught us to stand for the truth, to be strong and focus etc.
We also have similarities in the way he was raised up ( I was also raised up by a single mother).
*NAIJA STANDARD: Just like Tupac-your ‘godfather’, do you also do ‘drugs, consume alcohol and have mistresses’ around you regularly’?
None of the above.
*NAIJA STANDARD: How did you come about your music stage name ‘ZedTupac’ and what does that mean?
My name is “LEGACY” (THA AFRICAN LION) But people from my country ( ZAMBIA 🇿🇲) call me Tupac , I have tried to convince them but they never paid much attention to my actual stage name. So I had to add ZED to make it ( ZED TUPAC ) meaning ZED is for Zambia, cause I come from there.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Since you are the ONLY African musician to have risen to this rap music height from Zambia in Shakur’s philosophy, do we now call you ‘The Tupac of Africa’?
NO! Am Just Another Worrier who got inspired by Tupac Shakur, I still remain the same me (LEGACY).
*NAIJA STANDARD: Tell us about the titles of your albums and do you have plans this year to contest for music trophies like: BET, MTV, GRAMMY; American music Award, African Music Award, Emmy and other awards around the world?
The title of the Album is not yet known but am currently working on one. I am ready for all of the award.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Has Shakur’s family or music estate reached out to you at all or in any way for keeping the legacy of Tupac alive?
Not yet.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Do you intend to use your rap music to fight ills in the African society: bad governance, suffering of the masses?
Yes! I am also looking forward to work with other organisations (NGO) TO Combat the above mentioned obstacles.
*NAIJA STANDARD: How was your childhood like? Did your parents or family object to you doing rap music at any time?
Mum and other family members didn’t not support the movement just like any other patents would not support their child to choose music for school.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Will you now call yourself ‘The KING of rap music in Africa?
No! I still remain LEGACY THA AFRICAN LION
*NAIJA STANDARD: Finally, if you are able to see Tupac Shakur face-to-face, what will you tell him?
I would tell him this: “Thanks for the inspiration, you are a REAL G, I love your music, indeed you are a TRUE LEGEND and most of all you are a CHILD OF GOD”
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